Holly Surgery Update #2

Holly was taken back on schedule at about 7:30 this morning. I just spoke with the surgeon who did the first of her two procedures and it went really well. She's just starting the 2nd procedure now so maybe another hour or so before she's out of surgery.

Holly's Surgery Update #1

Seems like the only time I get around to updating this thing is while I'm stuck in the hospital waiting for someone's surgery to happen. It's a little after 7:00 this morning and Holly is in pre-op. I expect to be called back any minute now. I think her surgery is scheduled to start around 7:30 but it seems like these things are always running a little behind. I'll post with updates if I have a chance.

Audrey's Surgery Part 2

They finally took Audrey back and got started. We spent a couple of hours waiting for the doctor to arrive. He was held up at some other procedures earlier in the morning so he was running way behind. Holly wheeled Audrey around in a wheelchair for a long time to keep her occupied. She didn't seem to be too nervous. By the time they were ready for her to go back she had already managed to locate and place about a dozen band-aids on different places on her body.

They finally took her back at about 2:30. She seemed to get a little more nervous when she say Holly and I in our little bunny suits. Holly managed to keep her calm until we walked her back to the OR. Once there we quickly got her connected to the gas mask and she drifted off pretty quick. She was only awake long enough for me to make some big promises about fantastically fun things we'll do when she wakes us (hopefully she won't remember any of that). We hope she will be done between 4:00 and 4:30. Will report in later.

Audrey's Surgery Part 1

We're at the hospital right now waiting for them to take us back for Audrey's surgery. I'm hoping there won't be many updates. Just enough to say that everything went well and it's over. Will update as things progress. So far Audrey isn't nervous because she doesn't have a clue what's going on. I just hope that it stays that way. It's always so hard to watch them "gas" your kid.

Budding Meteorologist

Claire made it on TV tonight so I thought I would share it. She was on 9 News during the weather segment. Here's a link to the video. I'm not sure how long this video will be available.

9 News Video

Men Are Bums

No, this isn't the ranting website of your local suburban femi-Nazi...

Modern American culture defines men as people who drink beer, watch football, enjoy the occasional use of power tools and fart when and where they please. However, the book I've been reading has really opened my eyes to see that we're pretty pathetic if that's how we define manhood.

Every other week I get together with 5 or 6 other guys and we discuss The Christian Husband by Bob Lepine. It has really challenged us to look at what we think it means to "be a man". I've always known that God calls men to be much more then what our culture tells us, but reading this book has been a humbling experience. The book addresses all the things you would expect: Bible study, prayer, meditation and memorization. But in the second part of the book, Bob challenges the reader to consider the real role of a man in the family. The real role model for manhood is Jesus Christ. According to the Calvin, Jesus fulfills his role as the head of his church by serving as the prophet, priest and King. If we (as men) are to be the head of our wives and families as Christ is the head of his church, then as Bob Lepine suggests, we must then understand the, "...prophetic, priestly and kingly roles we are to fulfill."

That sounds all nice and doctrine-ey, but when Bob lays out the reality of those roles, it humbles you to the core. Bob then begins to describe the responsibilities of each role as prophet, priest and King. It's not just prayer, it's leading your family in regular worship and being an intercessor for your family. It's not just trying to listen to the voice of God, it's hearing him speak, building the families doctrinal foundation, proclaiming the truth of God in your home every day, confronting sin and encouraging through the truth and love of God.

And it doesn't stop there. I stop there because I don't want a 20-page post on my blog. We've got this life all wrong as men. We're not here to be served, watch football and gain weight around our middles. We're called to be leaders. Don't be fooled, this is hard stuff. We need to put the remote control away and stop pretending we can lead a wife and a family from the recliner. The next time you're tempted to plop down in the armchair and turn on the TV, go pray with your wife instead. The next time you want to fiddle around in the garage on nothing in particular, go lead your children in worship. When you commute to work, turn off the radio and intercede for your family. The time we have on Earth isn't me time, it's lead time. I just pray I can accept my own challenge.

Surviving the Sniffles

Well, since the beginning of December we've seen 70-some inches of snow and had about five major illnesses beat up the whole family. We've had the flu, strep and various "common" colds. I guess this is the short term reward I get for putting my 3-year old in school! This past weekend we've battled thru yet another cold. Fortunately this one hasn't been too hard on us; just a few sore throats, coughing and congestion.

All of a sudden summer is looking nice. No one's in school so I think that means we'll be healthy for a few months. I've also got to decide whether or not to attend my 10 year high school reunion this summer. I'm thinking not because I'm still in denial that I'm that old. Anyway, we're alive. Maybe when we're all better I will post more then once a month...